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Fire Island National Seashore Volunteer Receives National Award

Patchogue, NY - On Sunday, April 30, Fire Island National Seashore honored volunteer Mike Trotta, recipient of the prestigious 2016 George and Helen Hartzog for Outstanding Enduring Volunteer Service. Since 2003, Mr. Trotta has contributed thousands of hours of his time to help enhance Seashore operations and programs.

"No matter what he is working on, Mike is always working to make a difference," said Seashore Superintendent Chris Soller. Mr. Trotta has built desks and lifeguard stands, repaired phone lines and appliances, and guided youth groups in the replacement of fencing and restoration of an historic boathouse. Mr. Trotta also volunteers at the Seashore's Wilderness Visitor Center with his wife Mary, where they share their passion for the Seashore with visitors from across Long Island and around the globe.

Mr. Trotta will join Hartzog Award recipients from around the country on August 1 for a joint National Park Service/National Park Foundation ceremony in Washington, DC. The George and Helen Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service are named for former National Park Service Director George B. Hartzog, Jr. and his wife Helen. Hartzog served as the head of the National Park Service from 1964 to 1972. In 1970, he established the Volunteers-In-Parks Program with 300 volunteers.

Since then, more than four and a half million people have donated more than one and a half billion hours of service in national parks. Last year alone, there were 339,662 Volunteers-in-Parks, greeting visitors, building trails, leading programs, conducting research and doing just about any task imaginable.